Device for automatically adjusting the effective length of a stay or support

ABSTRACT

A device for automatically adjusting the effective length of a stay or supporting post such as is used for the support of parts of or associated with a steam turbine, the stay being connected at one end to the turbine or other part and connected at its other end to an oil-containing compensator. The said compensator communicates with a second similar compensator, the latter compensator being connected at its lower end to a strut that extends to and attaches to the turbine or other element thereof to which the first compensator is attached.

United States Patent inventor Lars Arvid Norberg Finspong, Sweden App]. No. 820,458

Filed Apr. 30, 1969 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 Assignee Stal-Laval Turbin Aktiebolag Finspong, Sweden Priority May 7, 1968 Sweden 6108/1968 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF A STAY 0R SUPPORT 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,234,573 7/1917 Sandvoss 60/545 X 1,683,351 9/1928 Herr 308/26 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney-Eric Y. Munson ABSTRACT: A device for automatically adjusting the effective length of a stay or supporting post such as is used for the support of parts of or associated with a steam turbine, the stay being connected at one end to the turbine or other part and US. Cl 248/2, connected at its other end to an oil-containing compensator. 248/DIG. l, 308/22 The said compensator communicates with a second similar Int. Cl. F161: 35/00 compensator, the latter compensator being connected at its Field of Search 248/20, 21, lower end to a strut that extends to and attaches to the turbine l9, l6, 14, 23, DIG. 1,308/26, 31, 33, 15,22; or other element thereof to which the first compensator is at- 60/54.5, 54.6 tached.

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DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF A STAY OR SUPPORT This invention relates to a device for the automatic adjustment of the length of a stay or supporting post. An example of such a device is, in the case of a steam turbine, mounted on a vacuum shell and supporting an overhung generator and/or a high-pressure turbine which has its outer end supported by stays or posts that are adapted to be adjusted in length by means of the present invention to compensate for changes in the height of the vacuum shell.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a steam turbine to which the invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is an alternative construction and FIG. 3 is the alternative construction turned through 90".

The vacuum shell shown at l envelops the condenser 2 and also envelops and supports a low-pressure turbine 3. The shell 1 also supports an overhung high-pressure turbine 4 and an electric generator 5. The elements 2 to 5 inclusive are supported at their free ends by the stays or supports 6. Each of the stays rests on a compensator 7 that consists of a liquid-filled (preferably oil-filled) casing which is free to expand in the direction of the length of the stay. The drawing shows a bellows-type construction.

The compensator shown at 7 is connected by means of a pipe 8 to another compensator 9 of design and construction similar to the compensator 7. The compensator 9 is fitted between a fixed support 10 which locates the upper end wall of the compensator and a tie bar 11 extending between the fixed end of the generator or the turbine and the lower end wall of the compensator 9.

Due to temperature variations during operation, the height of the vacuum shell 1 will vary and consequently the distance between the foundation and the fixed ends of the generator 5 and the high-pressure turbine 4 will also vary. In order to maintain the centerline 12 of the turbine rotors straight or horizontal under all operating conditions, the length of the stays changes with variations in the height of the vacuum shell in the following manner.

If the height of the shell 1 changes as a result of a temperature increase, the tie bar 11 also moves and slightly compresses the compensator 9, thus forcing the oil through the pipe 8 to the interior of the compensator 7, which, because of the entry of the oil, expands in height and slightly lifts the stay 6. By this means, the ends of the generator and the high-pressure turbine are also raised so that the entire line 12 remains straight.

By making one of the compensators larger than the other, compensation may also be obtained for changes in the length, of components connected to the compensators. In addition, the compensator 9 operated by the tie bar, can be connected to several of the compensators 7 thereby adjust the length of several stays. A spring-loaded stay 13 may be used to take over part of the load supported by the stay 6.

In the modified construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tie bar 11 is provided with a yoke 14 which supports the lower end wall of the compensator. The upper end wall rests against the fixed support 10. The stay 6 can be omitted if desired in a case where the compensator 7 is placed under the stay 13.

What I claim is:

l. A compensating mechanism to provide uniform displacement of an engine shaft with respect to a support base, said mechanism comprising a first fluidfilled compensator, one end of said compensator being connected to said support base and the other end thereof connected to an overhanging portion of said shaft, a second fluid-filled compensator in fluid connection with said first compensator supported above said base member and having one end thereof connected to said shaft at a point spaced from the point of connection of said first compensator. 

1. A compensating mechanism to provide uniform displacement of an engine shaft with respect to a support base, said mechanism comprising a first fluid-filled compensator, one end of said compensator being connected to said support base and the other end thereof connected to an overhanging portion of said shaft, a second fluid-filled compensator in fluid connection with said first compensator supported above said base member and having one end thereof connected to said shaft at a point spaced from the point of connection of said first compensator. 